THE PICTURE OF THE RUSSIAN IN THE WRITINGS OF THE POLISH INDEPENDENCE EMIGRATION

The author raises the issue of the picture of the Russian which functioned in the writings of the Polish independence emigration. Initially negative attitudes were predominant. The Russian were blamed for the misgivings of Stalinism. Their cultural difference was indicated as the factor which made cooperation impossible. Those attitudes changed in time. The emigrants recognized the Russian nation as a potential ally against Soviet imperialism. Polish-Russian solidarity and cooperation was viewed as a chance to abolish communism and to regain freedom for both the nations.